Once reserved for royalty
Since the 17th century, Hoshicha has graced Japan’s royalty – from Edo-period imperial banquets, to the Constitution Promulgation under Emperor Meiji, to the Crown Prince Akihito’s grand wedding ceremony.Â
16 Generations
Under the careful watch of 16th Generation Master Kaito Yamamori, the estate continues to safeguard time-honored techniques that define the family’s legacy.
Now, 400 years of tradition can be yours.
The Yamamori Estate
Limited in nature
The Yamamori Estate has and always will be a half-acre farm. The confluence of the Uji and Kizu Rivers creates a specific microclimate of perpetual humidity and dappled sunlight. The soil is rich in organic matter and red clay sediments, ideal for nurturing the Samidori cultivar, which creates a vibrant and creamy matcha.
Limited in production
Every harvest is aged for three years to develop the full depth of flavors, ultimately creating the perfect balance between naturally sweet and vibrant umami. This aging process restricts production to just 2,000 jars of matcha per year, making it the rarest matcha in the world.
The 2022 Reserve
- Aged for 3 years to develop its full depth of flavor
- Single-origin
- Hand-harvestedÂ
- Zero additives, preservatives, or pesticides. 100% natural and organic.
FAQs
Hoshicha was founded in 1632 and run by 16 generations of the Yamamori family. Our matcha has graced imperial banquets and royal weddings, and every cup embodies centuries of expertise and tradition, offering a rare taste of Japanese heritage that no other brand can match.
Strict cultivar selection, labor-intensive hand processing, and the limited capacity of our stone mills mean only 15% of initial batches meet our rigorous flavor and quality standards. In addition, the Yamamori Family has restricted it’s farm to half an acre, due to the perfect microclimate and soil matter of this plot, which specifically sits along the Uji River near Lake Biwa.
Only 132 lbs (60 kg) of matcha are produced annually, resulting in just 2,000 jars each per year. This ultra-limited production means Hoshicha matcha is a rare treasure, reserved for those who demand the very finest.
Our matcha is aged for three years in double-layered, vacuum-sealed packaging at -5°C and 30% humidity, allowing the flavors to develop into a creamy, caramel-like richness with balanced umami and sweetness.
Only the top three leaves and bud of each stem are hand-picked by veteran harvesters during the first flush. Each leaf is steamed, air-dried, and painstakingly de-veined by hand using feather brushes, a process that takes ~8 hours per kilogram, ensuring only the purest leaf flesh is used.
The terroir
Our estate is nestled in central Uji, bordered by the Uji and Kizu Rivers. The region's frequent fog, gentle sunlight, and mineral-rich red clay soil create a microclimate found nowhere else.